Superconductive CaC6 prepared from flexible graphite sheets

The host graphite material of choice for most CaC₆ studies is highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), which can affect the resulting properties of prepared graphite intercalation compounds (GICs). In order to gain a better understanding of the superconductivity of CaC₆, we examined CaC₆ prepared from Grafoil and PGS. To confirm their superconductivity, the dependences of the magnetic moment on temperature under a constant magnetic field were measured over 2–20 K. The resulting CaC₆ transitioned to a superconducting state at around 11 K, independent of purity and homogeneity, while slight differences that depended on the host materials were observed. The transition to a superconducting state at 11.5 K occurred provided that a small amount of CaC₆ was present. The co-existence of LiC₆ and other GICs, and the residual Li atoms in the CaC₆ had little effect on the transition temperature. The transition temperature of the CaC₆ prepared from PGS was slightly lower than that of the CaC₆ prepared from HOPG and Grafoil.     

The electronic structure of Ca-intercalated superconducting graphite CaC6

We have measured Ca-intercalated graphite superconductor CaC₆ (T_c = 11.2 K) by soft X-ray photoemission spectroscopy in order to understand the electronic structure. For the valence band, we observed several structures that correspond to those of calculated density of states with the partial density of states of Ca 3d at the Fermi level (E_F). We also observed core level spectra that are a very large asymmetric Ca 2p and asymmetric C 1s for CaC₆, suggesting the existence of conduction electrons derived from Ca 3d and a charge transfer from Ca to graphene layer. These results provide spectroscopic evidence for PDOS of Ca 3d at E_F. From a comparison of electronic structure of CaC₆ and other graphite intercalation compounds (GICs), we found the difference between CaC₆ and other superconducting GICs, which provides deeper understanding of the superconductivity of CaC₆.     

First-Principles Prediction of High-Pressure Phase of CaC6

The lattice dynamics of rhombohedral GaG6 is studied as a function orpressure to probe Its high pressure phase with low superconducting transition temperature using the density functional liner-response theory. The pressureinduced phase transition in CaC6 is attributable to the softening transverse acoustic （TA） phonon mode at the zone boundary X （0.5, 0.0, 0.5） point. The high pressure phase is then explored by performing fully structural optimization in the supercell which accommodates the atomic displacements corresponding to the eigenvectors of the unstable mode of TA（X）. The high-pressure phase is predicted to be a monoclinic unit cell with space group P21/m.     

Effect of hydrogenation on the magnetic properties of the intermetallic compound Er2Fe14B with single-crystal and nanocrystalline structures

Hydrogenated single crystals Er₂Fe₁₄Bh _x with different hydrogen contents are grown and their magnetic properties are studied for the first time. It is established that both the Curie temperature and the temperature of the spin-reorientation phase transition increase with an increase in the hydrogen content. In the Er₂Fe₁₄B single crystal, the contributions of the rare-earth metal and iron sublattices to the magnetic anisotropy decrease upon hydrogenation. However, their compensation occurs at a temperature higher than that in the initial compound Er₂Fe₁₄B due to the enhancement of the Fe-Fe and R-Fe exchange interactions. The effect of hydrogenation on the magnetic characteristics of the Er₂Fe₁₄B compound with a nanocrystalline structure is investigated. It is revealed that the hydrogenation leads to an increase in the coercive force and the residual magnetization of these alloys.     

Electron diffraction and electron microscopic study of BaYCuO superconducting materials

Electron microscopy and electron diffraction have been applied to show that the orthorhombic phase in the compound Ba₂YCu₃O_7−δ is responsible for the high superconducting transition temperature. A positive correlation is found between the volume fration of the orthorhombic phase and the superconducting transition temperature. By means of an “in-situ” heating experiment it is found that the orthorhombic phase is formed on cooling from a high temperature tetragonal phase with disordered vacancies. It is suggested that the low temperature tetragonal phase that occurs in the same specimens as the orthorhombic phase also contains an ordered arrangement of vacancies different from that present in the orthorhombic phase. The order-disorder transition associated with the structural vacancies is shown to be reversible, provided there has been no oxygen loss.     

反应扩散法制备的PbMo6S8超导带的超导特性

本文报道反应扩散法制备Chevrel相PbMo₆S₈超导带材的过程以及带材的超导特性。Mo带与H₂S气体反应生成单相的Mo-S化合物(MoS₂或Mo₂S₃,根据反应温度而定),再与Pb的蒸汽反应生成单相的PbMo₆S₈薄层。PbMo₆S₈超导层的临界温度T_c=13.0 关键词：     

Small Seebeck coefficient of graphite intercalation compounds containing CaC6

Calcium graphite intercalation compounds (Ca-GICs; the composition is CaC₆) and GICs containing CaC₆ are synthesized from Grafoil and PGS graphite sheets, and the Seebeck coefficients are measured. The absolute values of the Seebeck coefficient of these GICs are very small; in some cases, the values are positive. This phenomenon observed in the Seebeck coefficient of GICs containing CaC₆ is very different from that of general GICs such as alkali-metal GICs. The temperature dependence of the Seebeck coefficient of these GICs is to that of general GICs; that is, the absolute values of the Seebeck coefficient decrease with a decrease in the temperature.     

ELECTROCHEMICAL OXIDATION OF La2CuO4 SINGLE CRYSTALS

Bulk superconducting La₂CuO_4+δ single crystals are obtained by using electrochemical intercalation technique from the as-grown insulating samples. Oxidation is carried out by constant current I=10μA at temperature T=70℃ and room temperature, respectively. Structure and magnetic properties are studied by low-temperature X-ray diffraction and susceptibility measurements. A superconducting phase with T_c of 19K and δ-0.12 can be attributed to the formation of oxygen clusters. Room temperature oxidation is inhomogeneous: two superconducting phases with T_c1 of 24K and T_c2 of 8K and an antiferromagnetic phase are coexisting in the crystal. It is found that the appearance of T_c in this system has the "step" tendency.     

High pressure synthesis of the mixed valent and nonsuperconducting ternary YbRhxSny compound

The ternary compound YbRh_1.4Sn_4.6 with the phase I structure (simple cubic) when subjected to a pressure of 40 kbar at 800°C is found to transform to phase III structure (f.c.c.) with the composition YbRh_1.1Sn₃. The latter compound has a lattice parameter of $\text{a = 13.735}\text{A}\text{?}$ which suggests that the Yb is in an intermediate valence state. The temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility suggests that the Yb is in a homogeneously mixed valence state in the pressure synthesized product. In the phase I structure YbRh_1.1Sn_4.6 is superconducting at 8.6°K, but in the phase III structure the compound YbRh_1.1Sn₃ is not superconducting down to 0.9°K. It is suggested that superconductivity and mixed valence are incompatible.     

Effect of substitution of Ce on superconducting properties of Bi1.7Pb0.3Sr2Ca2−x Ce x Cu3O10+δ system

We have investigated the superconducting properties of the Bi_1.7 Pb_0.3Sr₂Ca_2−xCe _x Cu₃O_10+δ system with x=0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08 and 0.1 by X-ray diffraction and magnetic susceptibility. The substitution of Ce for Ca has been found to drastically change the superconducting properties of the system. X-ray diffraction studies on these compounds indicate decrease in the c-parameter with increased substitution of Ce at Ca site and volume fraction of high T _c (2 : 2 : 2 : 3) phase decreases and low T _c phase increases. The magnetic susceptibility of this compound shows that the diamagnetic on set superconducting transition temperature (onset) varies from 109 K to 51 K for x=0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08 and 0.1. These results suggest the possible existence of Ce in a tetravalent state rather than a trivalent state in this system; that is, Ca²⁺ → Ce⁴⁺ replacement changes the hole carrier concentration. Hole filling is the cause of lowering T _c of the system.     

A new pseudo-one-dimensional superconductor: Tℓ2Mo6Se6

The properties of a new superconducting pseudo-one-dimensional compound, T?₂Mo₆Se₆ are presented. The crystal structure of this material contains linear chains in the form of infinite stacks of Mo₆ clusters. The anisotropy in the normal state resistivity is found to be of the order of 10³ and the parallel upper critical field is 26 times higher than the perpendicular one.     

Absence of superconductivity down to 80 mK in graphite intercalated BaC6

Following recent theoretical and experimental investigations of superconductivity in the graphite intercalated compounds CaC₆ and SrC₆, we report on a very low temperature magnetisation study on BaC₆ down to 80 mK. The data show no trace of superconductivity even at fields as low as 0.7 Oe. Using a McMillan parametrisation of the BCS parameters, we conclude that the Coulomb pseudopotential is expected to be as large as 0.19 in both BaC₆ and SrC₆, i.e. 40% larger than in CaC₆. As an alternative scenario, we argue that extrinsic effects such as intercalant disorder may depress superconductivity in both BaC₆ and SrC₆, as in the case of CaC₆.     

Single crystal growth of YBa2Cu3O7−δ through a Pt compound intermediate phase

We report the synthesis of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (Y-123 phase)-single crystals, through a different path to the traditional one – which involves Y₂BaCuO₅ (Y-211 phase) as a precursor –. In our case, at 970°C a Pt compound appears: Y₂Ba₃Cu₂PtO₁₀ which dissolves in the melt when heated at 1100°C allowing the growth of Y-123 phase. Large single crystals of Y-123 phase obtained through the route developed in this study showed good superconducting properties with a transition temperature onset at about 85 K; this transition temperature is shifted towards higher temperatures through oxygenation processes that are favoured by their dimensions.     

μ+SR studies in the chevrel phase superconductors

The magnetic properties of the superconducting Chevrel compound Eu_0.75Sn_0.25Mo₆S_7.6Se_0.4 have been studied by μ⁺SR. The measurements covered the field range 0–30 kOe at various temperatures between 0.05 K and 1.5 K as well as studied in fields between 0 and 3 kOe from 2 K up to room temperature. Strong effects due to the Eu 4f-moments are observed over the whole temperature range. The relaxation rate seems to have its origin mainly in the dynamics of the Eu spins. For comparison the nonmagnetic Chevrel phase superconductor SnMo₆S₄Se₄ was measured too.     

Resonance enhancement of electron-phonon interaction

A superconducting state near the phase transition curve from paramagnetic phase to superconducting phase for perovskites La_{2 ? x} Sr _x CuO₄ and YBa₂Cu₃O₆ is considered. Expressions for effective parameters of electron-spin-phonon interaction are obtained. It is shown that the critical temperature of the phase transition from paramagnetic phase to superconducting phase T _c is determined by the enhancement of electron-phonon interaction by spin fluctuations of exchange type.     

Coexistence of magnetism and superconductivity in the hole doped FeAs-based superconducting compound

The magnetic and superconducting properties of the Sm-doped FeAs-based superconducting compound were investigated under wide ranges of temperature and magnetic field. After the systematical magnetic ion substitution, the superconducting transition temperature decreases with increasing magnetic moment. The hysteresis loop of the La_0.87?xSm_xSr_0.13FeAsO sample shows a superconducting hysteresis and a paramagnetic background signal. The paramagnetic signal is mainly attributed to the Sm moments. The experiment demonstrates that the coexistence of magnetism and superconductivity in the hole doped FeAs-based superconducting compounds is possible. Unlike the electron doped FeAs-based superconducting compounds SmFeAsOF, the hole doped superconductivity is degraded by the substitution of La by Sm. The hole-doped and electron-doped sides are not symmetric.     

Electronic structure and half-metallic property of Si<Subscript>3</Subscript>CaC<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The electronic structures and magnetic properties of Si₃CaC₄ in zinc-blende phase has been studied by employing the first-principles method based on density functional theory (DFT). The calculations predict stable ferromagnetic ground state in Si₃CaC₄, resulting from calcium substitution for silicon. The calculated total magnetic moment is 2.00 μ _B per supercell, which mainly arises from the Ca and neighboring C atoms. Band structures and density of states studies show half-metallic (HM) ferromagnetic property for Si₃CaC₄. The ferromagnetic coupling is generally observed between the Ca and C atoms. The ferromagnetism of Si₃CaC₄ can be explained by the hole-mediated double exchange mechanism. The sensitivity of half-metallicity of Si₃CaC₄ as a function of lattice constant is also discussed, and the half-metallicity can be kept in a wider lattice constant range.     

Influence of Ni addition on the process of phase formation in MgB2 bulk

Nickel is an important sheath material for the fabrication of MgB₂ wires. However, the effects of Ni doping on the phase formation and superconducting properties of MgB₂ remain controversial. In this work, Ni powder is selected for doping in MgB₂ bulk in order to examine the corresponding changes. Combining with the DSC analysis and in-situ XRD results, we find indications that the Ni powder reacted with Mg and B, forming MgNi_2.5B₂ at 600°C. The ternary compound began to decompose at a temperature above 800°C. The reactive phase, MgNi_2.5B₂, acted as an obstacle to the supercurrent flow, creating weak links among the MgB₂ grain boundaries. However, it is found that the added Ni formed a eutectic liquid phase with Mg at 506°C. The liquid phase helps the formation of MgB₂ at low temperature, which not only increases the density of the sample, but also improves the grain connectivity. Consequently, the presence of Ni in the MgB₂ sample is not necessarily a disadvantage; it depends on the desired application.     

Superconductivity in the Lu-Ir alloy system

Superconductivity in the Lu-Ir alloy system is investigated. Although it has been reported that LuIr₂ is superconducting at 2.47 K, it is found that LuIr₂ is not superconducting above 1.3 K. However, alloys of composition between LuIr₂ and Ir are superconducting. This enhancement of superconductivity is not due to the eutectic structure but to the off-stoichiometry of the C15 Laves phase which has a certain homogeneity range. In the C15 Laves phase, the transition temperature increases and the lattice constant decreases monotonically with increasing Ir concentration.     

Optimization of the superconducting phase of hydrogen sulfide

The electron and phonon spectra, as well as the densities of electron and phonon states of the SH₃ phase and the stable orthorhombic structure of hydrogen sulfide SH₂, are calculated for the pressure interval 100–225 GPa. It is found that the I4/mmm phase can be responsible for the superconducting properties of metallic hydrogen sulfide along with the SH₃ phase. Sequential stages for obtaining and conservation of the SH₂ phase are proposed. The properties of two (SH₂ and SH₃) superconducting phases of hydrogen sulfide are compared.